Apparatus for sterilizing canned goods



April 15;, 1930.. A. R. THOMPSON APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING CANNED GOODS Filed Sept, 29 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a sh INVENTOR JZJaz 2% WITNESS A TTOR NE VS April 15, 1930. A. R. THOMPSON APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING CANNED GOODS 7 Filed Sept. 29 1 1920 3 SheecSr-Shemt 2 I N VEN TOR I JLHI HI I III JMMMM WI TIYESS A TTORNE Y5 April 15, 1930- A. R. THOMPSON APPARATUSF'OR STERILIZING CANNED 600155 Filed Sept. 29, V5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JZJMt/F z/ron WITNESS A TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 15, 1930' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ALBERT R. THOMPSON, OF SAN JOSE, QALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ANDERSON-BARN- GROVER MFG. 00., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 01 CALIFORNIA APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING CANNED GOODS Application filed September 29, 1920. Serial No. 413,587.

My invention relatesto the class of machines or apparatus for sterilizing canned goods. Commodities, according to their nature, require diiierent temperatures and require to be cooled as part of the sterilizing process. Cooking under pressure greater than atmospheric is common; and, it is also usual, after the canned goods have been subjected to the cooking process in one machine, to transfer the cans to a separate cooler, which is under atmospheric pressure.

As far as I am aware, cooking under pres sure greater than atmospheric, whether the pressure is the result of a confined fluid heatlng-medium, such as steam, or is due to a body of compressed air overlying a liquid heating-medium such as water has been heretofore' conducted in a single chamber in which the goods, relatively slowly rise to the sterilizing temperature, thereby unnecessarily prolonging their time of cook; and, as far as I know, the subsequent cooling of the cans has always been effected in a separate chamber at atmospheric pressure, which operation, especially with goods sterilized under pressure above atmospheric and at relatively high temperature, (such goods, for example, as corn) has the serious disadvantage of causing the seams of the cans to open, and thus ruin their contents.

One object of my invention is to provide a single apparatus in an initial compartment of which the goods are exposed to a temperature higher than that required for sterilizing, in order to rapidly raise them to said sterilizing temperature, and are then immediately advanced into a second compartment directly communicating with the first and in which the temperature is held constant at the required sterilizing point for the proper time of cock, both compartments being under pressure above atmospheric, and said pressure preventing the interchange of heat through the communication of said compart ments. 1

Another object is to provide a single apparatus having a plurality of successively communicating compartments with means for advancing the canned goods directly from one to another compartment and having also means for maintaining in one com partment a sterilizing temperature and in the other a cooling temperature, and means for maintaining in both compartments pressure above atmospheric.

A third object is, to provide a single apparatus for sterilizing canned goods compris ng a shell interiorly divided into a plurality of successively communicating compartments, means for advancing the goods through said compartments successively,

means for maintaining in the initial compartment a temperature higher than that required for sterilization, in the next compartment a temperature required for sterilization, and in the last compartment a cooling temperature, and means for maintaining in said shell and throughout all its com-.

partments a pressure above atmospheric, sufficient to prevent interchange of heat between the compartments through their communications.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the novel apparatus which I shall now fully describe by reference to the accompanymg drawings.

No claims are herein made to the method carried out in this apparatus as such method forms the subject-matter of a separate a pllcation, filed contemporaneously herewith, under date of September 29, 1920, and Serial Number 413,588.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view, broken,.and partly in vertical longitudinal section, of the ap' paratus.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view looking down on the interior of the sterilizing shell or box in the vicinity of one of the partitions, showing the accelerated pitch of the helical rail in order-to carry the cans quickly from one com- Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a detail showing the cuts in the helical guide rail to admit the cans from the feed valve to the reel.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus here shown is a box or shell in which the can-path is, in general, of a type now well known and comprises a fixed helieally directed rail, and a rotating reel of rails inside the helical rail and parallel with .its

axis. The reel rails are of some type of angle section so that when properly relatively disposed, they and the helical rail form a continuous helical path through which the cans are conveyed positively from the inlet to the outlet.

1 is the box or shell fluid-tight and adapted to receive and confine the media required to impart the necessary temperatures and pressiires at the several stages of operation, as will be presently described.

Within the shell in its region of inner circumference is suitably mounted on longitudinal strin er-rails 1, a fixed helically directed rail 2, w ich is preferably of T-section with its leg portion projecting inwardly.

3 is a rotatable shaft mounted in and extending through the shell in its axis.

Fixed u on this shaft are three airs of s aced spi ers 4, each pair carrying etween tiieir rims the circumferentially disposed spaced reel rails 5, thereby forming three reels, rotating in unison, the rails of the reels being alined. These rails are best of anglesection and they lieand rotate within the helically directed rail 2 in such relation thereto that a can introduced at one end of the shell will lie between the rails and will be directed thereby, by the rotation of the reels, throughout a continuous helical path to the other end of the shell.

Within the shell are two partitions 6 Fig. 1. These occupy the full cross section of the shell, exce t at the upper ortion, where as shown in igs. 1 and 2, t ey terminate short of the upper arc of the shell, thereby forming three distinct compartments, which in Fig. 1 I have, for convenience, indicated by A, B and C, said compartments successivel communicating over the tops of the partitions.

- In order to make the can path as'long as possible, the general pitch of the helically directed fixed rail 2 is at a relatively slight angle as indicated in Fig. 3, but as it is required that the can be advanced from one compartment to the other over the top of the partition, it is necessary in the short time the can is in this upper position, .to move it more rapidly, so that it may safely cross thepartition. Therefore, the pitch of the fixed rail, in the region over the partitions, is accelerated materially, as is indicated M2 in Figs. 1 and 8, whereby the can is moved rapidly through the communications between the compartments, thus conforming the time to the space available.

In Figs. 1 and 4, I have shown a simple form of fluid tight feed valve, comprising a rotating ocket wheel 7 housed in a shell 8, with which a .feed chute 9 communicates. This housing communicates with the rotating reel rails of compartment A, the cans indicated by 10, in Fig. 4, successively dropping from the pockets of the valve wheel 7,through a cut out portion at 11, shown in Fig. 5, of the fixed rails 2, onto the reel rails successively.

Similarly, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 6 a fluid tight .dischar e valve comprising a pocket wheel 12 in a iousing 13 from which a chute 14 leads, Fig. 6. The cans are delivered to the pockets of the valve wheel 12 by being lifted from their reel rails 5 by the pusher teeth 15 of a pair of rotating disks 16. These disks are rotated gearwise by the engagement of their teeth with the rails of the rotating reel, as seen in Fig. 6.

In the compartments or regions A and B is a heating medium. This is here indicated by a body of water a in compartment A, and a body of water I) in com artment B. These water bodies are heated by perforated steam pipes 17 and 17 respectively. In compartment C is a cooling mediun indicated by a body of water 0, said medium being supplied by a pipe 17".

18 is a pipe which leads from a source of air under pressure, indicated by 19, which may represent an air pump. Pipe 18 leads into the top of the shell 1, and is controlled by a cock 19. A pressure gauge 20 indicates the pressure within the shell, and this pressure is equal in all the compartments. The reel shaft 3 is driven from suitable power, not shown, and from this shaft, by a gear train 21 on one end, the feed valve-wheel 7 is driven, and by a gear train 22 on the other end the discharge valve 12 is driven.

In operating my apparatus, I first establish a predetermined pressure in the shell by means of the air introduced, and I raise the temperature in compartment A to a degree predetermined by length of time the cans take to pass through said compartment and the degree of heat required for the sterilization of their contents. The temperature of this initial region, in general terms, should be higher than that required for sterilization. in order to rapidly raise the temperature of the can contents to the required degree; and as-this temperature is reached the cans are ready to pass into the next heat region or compartment B. In this latter region, the sterilizing temperature is. maintained constant throughout the course of the cans therethrough, so that by the time the cans are passing into the third compartment or region C, their time of cook is complete. In this region C, a cooling temperature is maintained until,.as the cans are discharged, they are sulficiently cooled. Thus in all three regions the temperature difit'ers and though these regions communicate and form a single integral inclosure, all are under the same pressure, which serves the double purpose of preventv ing the interchange of heat between the communicating regions, due to the heat insulating property of the air under pressure and of keeping the cans under pressure during the cooling effect.

As a concrete example of this use or operation of the apparatus Igive the followin Taking canned corn as the commodity to fie sterilized, I would maintain a gauge pressure of say 20 pounds in the shell. In region A I would have a emperature of 260 degrees F. and would raise the temperature of the cans in said region to 255 degrees F. in about seven or eight minutes. In region B I would maintain a temperature of 255 degrees F. during the entire travel of the cans therethrough; and in region C, I would have a cooling temperature of say 100 degrees F. or less. This is merely by way of illustration, as different commodities will require different pressures and temperatures.

I claim 1. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a fluid tight shell divided interiorly into a plurality of compartments successively con'imunicating; means for supplying the canned goods to the first compartment; means for discharging them from the last compartment; means for advancing them through the compartments successively; a. temperature-imparting medium in each compartment, the temperature of the medium in the first compartment being higher than that required for. sterilization, and the temperature of the medium in the succeeding compartment being that required for sterilization; and means for preventing the interchange of heat through the communications of said compartments.

2. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a fluid tight shell divided i nteriorly 1nto a plurality of compartments successively communicatin at their upper portions; means for supp ying the canned goods to the first compartment; means for dischar ing them from the last compartment; means For advancing them through the compartments successively; a body of liquid in each compartment, the temperature of the liquid body in the first compartment being higher than that required for sterilization and the temperature of the liquid body in the succeeding compartment being that required for sterilization; and means'for im' posing a fluid pressure higher than atmospheric upon said liquid bodies to keep the interior of the shell under pressure and prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments 7 3. An apparatus for sterilizing canned interiorly 1nto goods comprisingla fluid tight shell divided t ree compartments successively communicating; means for supplying the canned goods to the first compartment;

means for ischarging them from the last compartment; means for advancing them through the compartments successively; a temperature imparting medium in each comartment, the temperature of the medium in the first compartment being higher than that required for sterilization, the temperature of the medium in the second compartment being that required for sterilization, and. the temperature of the medium in the last compartment being a cooling temperature, lower than that of the medium in the second compartment; and means for preventing the interchange of heat through the communications of said compartments.

4. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a fluid tight shell divided interiorly: into three compartments successively communicating at their upper portions; means for supplying the canned goods to the first compartment; means for discharging them from the last compartment; means for advancing them through the com partments successively; a body of liquid in each compartment, the temperature of theliquid body in the first compartment being higher than that required for sterilization. the temperature of the liquid body in the second compartment being that required for sterilization, and the temperature of the liquid body in the last compartment being a cooling temperature, lower than that of the body in the second compartment; and means for imposing a fluid pressure higher than atmospheric upon said liquid bodies to keep the interior of the shell under pressure and pro vent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

5. In an apparatus for sterilizing canned goods, means for advancing the goods continuously through separated treating regions thereof, and transferring them without interruptionfrom one region to another, comprising a fixed heiically directed rail about the inner circumference of said regions, said rail having a section with an accelerated pitch, in the transfer zone to pass the goods safely therethrough, and a rotatable reel having a peripheral series of rails parallel with its axis and lying within the helical rail.

6. Apparatus for treating canned goods comprising a plurality of fluid tight compartments successively communicating: means for advancing the canned goods through the compartments successively; a temperature-imparting medium in each compartment, means for maintaining the medium in the first compartment at a temperature higher than that required for the goods, and the medium in a succeeding compartment at the temperature required for the goods; and means for preventing the interchange of heat through the communications between said compartments.

7. Apparatus for treating canned goods comprising a plurality of fluid tight compart- 5 ments successively communicating at their upper portions; means for advancing the canned goods thro h the compartments successively; a body 0 liquid in each compartment, and means for maintaining the liquid 1 body in the first compartment at a temperature higher than that required for the goods: and the liquid body in the succeeding compartment at the temperature uired for the gods; means for imposing a uid pressure her than atmospheric u on said liquid 'es to keep the interior 0 the shell under pressure and prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

m 8. Apparatus for treatin canned goods comprising a plurality of flui tight compartments successively communicating; means for supplying the canned oods to the first compartment; means for ischarging them as from the last compartment; means for advancin them through the compartments successively; a temperature im arting medium in each compartment, an means for maintaining the medium in the first compartment at a temperature higher than that reqmred for the goods, the mediumin the second compartment at the temperature reuired for sterilization, and the medium in t e last compartment at a cooling temperature, and means for preventing interchange of heat through the communications of said compartments.

9. Apparatus for treating canned goods comprising three fluid tight compartments successive y communicating at their upper portions; means for supp ying the canned goods to the first compartment; means for discharging the goods from the third compartment; means for advancing the goods through the compartments successively; a body of li uid in each com artment, means for maintaining the liquid y in the first compartment at a temperature higher than that required for the goods; the liquid body in the second compartment at the tem erature required for the goods, and the liquid body in the last compartment at a temperature lower than that of the body in the second com artment; and means for inposing a flui pressure higher than atmospheric upon said liquid bodies to keep the interior of the com artments under pressure and prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

' 10. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a plurality of compartments successively communicating; means for supplying the canned goods to the first compartment; means for advancing the goods l I successively through the compartments;

means for discharging them from the last compartment; a temperature-imparting medium in each compartment, the temperature of the medium in the first compartment being higher than that required for sterilization, and the temperature of the medium in the succeeding compartment being that required for sterilization; and means for preventing the interchange of heat between the said compartments.

11. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprisin a plurality of compartments successively communicating at their upper portions; means for supplying canned goods to the'first com artment; means for advancing the goods t rough the compartments successively; means for discharging them from the last compartment; a body of liquid in each compartment, the temperature of the liquid body in the first compartment being higher than that required for sterilization and the temperature of the liquid body in .the succeeding compartment being that required for sterilization; means for imposing a fluid pressure higher than atmospheric upon said liquid bodies in said compartments; to prevent the interchange of heat between the compartments.

12. Apparatus for sterilizin canned goods; comprising a plurality o compartments successively communicating; means for supplying canned goods to the first comthrough the compartments successively; means for discharging them from the last compartment; a temperature-imparting medium in each compartment, the temperature of the medium in the first compartment being'highest and the temperature of the medium in the intermediate compartment being lower, and the temperature of the medium in the last compartment being a coolin temperature; and means for preventing t e interchange of heat between the said compartments.

13. Apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising three compartments successively communicating at t eir upper portions; means for supplying canned oods to the first compartment; means for ischarging the goods from the last compartment; means for advancing the goods through the compartments successive y; a body of liquid in each compartment; means for maintaining the liquid in the first compartment at a temperature higher than that required for sterilization; and the liquid body in the second compartment being at the temperature required for sterilization, and the liquid body in the last compartment at a cooling temperature; and means for imposing a fluid pressure higher than atmospheric upon said iquid bodies to keep them under pressure to revent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

partment; means for advancing the goods 14. In an apparatus for sterilizing canned goods, means for advancing the goods continuously through separated treating regions therefor, and transferring them without interruption from one region to another, comprising a fixed helically directed canway extending about the inner circumference of said regions, said canway having a section with an accelerated pitch, in the transfer zone between said regions, to pass the goods safely through said zone, and means for moving the cans through said canway, substantially as described.

15. An apparatus for treating canned goods; a fluid tight shell divided interiorly into a plurality of compartments; and means for advancing the goods continuously through said compartments successively and transferring them without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a helically directed canway about the inner circumference of said shell having a section with an accelerated pitch in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the goods safely through such zone, and means for moving cans through said canway.

16. In apparatus for treating canned goods, a fluid tight shell divided interiorly into a plurality of compartments, and means for advancing v the goods continuously through said compartments successively and transferring them without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a helically directed canway about the inner circumference of said shell, said canway having a section with an accelerated pitch in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the goods safely through such zone, and means for moving the cans along such canway; and means for imposing a fluid pressure higher than atmospheric upon said liquid bodies to keep the interior of the shell under pressure and prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

17. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a fluid tight shell divided interiorly into a plurality of compartments; means for maintaining different temperatures in the different compartments; means for advancing the goods continuously through said compartments successively and transferring them without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a fixed helically directed canway about the innor circumference of said shell, said canway having a section with an accelerated pitch, in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the goods safely through such zone, and means to move the cans to traverse said canway; and means to prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

18. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a fluid tight shell divided interiorly into a plurality of compartments successively communicating at their upper portions; means for maintaining different temperatures in the different compartments; means for advancing the goods continuously through said compartments successively and transferring them without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a helically directed canway about the inner circumference of said shell having a section with an accelerated pitch in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the goods safely through such zone, and means to move the cans along said canway, and means for imposing a fluid pressure higher than atmospheric upon said liquid bodies to keep the interior of the shell under pressure and prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

19. In apparatus for treating canned goods; a fluid tight shell divided interiorly into a plurality of compartments; and means for advancing the goods continuously through said compartments successively and transferring them Without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a fixed helically directed rail about the inner circumference of said shell, said rail having a section with an accelerated pitch, in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the goods safely through such zone, and a rotatable reel having a peripheral series of rails parallel with its axis and lying within the helical rail.

20. In apparatus for treating canned goods, a fluid tight shell divided interiorly into a plurality of compartments, and means for advancing the goods continuously through said compartments successively and transferring them without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a fixed helically directed rail about the inner circumference of said shell, said rail having a section with an accelerated pitch, in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the goods safely through such zone, and a rotatable reel having a peripheral series of rails parallel with its axis and lying within the helical rail; and means for lmposing a fluid pressure higher than atmospheric upon said liquid bodies to keep the interior of the shell under pressure and prevent the interchange of heat"through the communications of the compartments. W

21. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a fluid tight shell divlded interiorly into a plurality of compartments;

means for maintaining different temperatures in the different compartments; means for advancing the goods continuously through said compartments successively and transferring them without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a fixed helically directed rail about the inner circumference of said shell, said rail having a section with an accelerated pitch, in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the oods safely through such zone, and a rotatale reel havin a peripheral series of rails arallel with lts axis and lying within the elical rail; and means to prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

22. An apparatus for sterilizing canned goods comprising a fluid tight shell divided mteriorly into a plurality of compartments successively communicating at their upper portions; means for maintaining different temperatures in the different compartments; means for advancing the goods continuously throu b said compartments successively and trans ei'ring them without interruption from one compartment to the next, comprising a fixed helically directed rail about the inner circumference of said shell, said rail having a section with an accelerated pitch, in the transfer zone between compartments to pass the oods safely through such zone, and a rotata 1e reel having a peripheral series of rails parallel with its axis and lying within the elical rail; and means for imposing a fluid ressure higher than atmospheric upon said quid bodies to keep the interior of the shell under pressure and prevent the interchange of heat through the communications of the compartments.

23. A heat treating apparatus comprising a container divided into a lurality of chamhere the upper portions 0 which are in communication, a spiral track within each chamber the tracks being disposed substantially on to end and substantially coaxial with reapect'to each other, means within each chamber adapted to move objects along said spiral track, and transfer means adapted to shift the objects from the end of the s iral track in one chamber to the beginning 0 the spiral track in an adjacent chamber.

24. A heat treating apparatus comprising a container divided into a plurality of chambers, having their upper portions in communication, a spiral track within each of said chambers, said tracks being discontinuous and arranged end to end in coaxial relation, 0. fixed cam between the end of the track in one chamber and the beginning of the track in an adjacent chamber, said cam being adapted to shift objects from one track to another, and a rotary member ada ted to cause the objects to travel along sai tracks and cam.

25. A heat treating apparatus comprising a container divided into a plurality of chambers the upper portions of which are in communication, spiral tracks, one within each chamber, arranged end to end and substantial] coaxial with respect to each other, said trac s being discontinuous and each being formed of an angle bar having its flanged portion outward, a rotary ribbed rack concentric with the turns of each spiral track, a fixed cam of greater pitch than the spiral track between the end of the track in one chamber and the beginning of the track in an adjacent chamber, said cam being adapted to guide the objects through an opening from one chamber to another.

26. A heat treating apparatus comprising a fluid tight container divided into a plurality of chambers the upper portions of which are in communication with each other, means whereby differences of temperature may be maintained in said chambers, respectively, and means within said container for transferring objects in the container from one chamber to another in succession.

27. A heat treating apparatus comprising a fluid tight container divided into a plurality of chambers in communication with each other, means whereby differences of temperature may be maintained in said chambers, respectively, an air lock mechanism through which objects may be fed into one of said chambers, means for receiving said objects admitted through the air lock and conveying them through the said chambers in succession, and a discharging air lock arranged to discharge treated objects from another of said chambers.

28. A heat treating ap aratus comprising a fluid tight container ivided into a plurality of communicating chambers, means whereby different temperatures may be maintained in said chambers, means for forcing a fixed gas under pressure into said container, and means for transferring objects within the container from one chamber to another in succession.

' 29. A heat treating a paratus comprising a fluid tight container ivided into communicatin chambers, means for forcing a fixed gas un er pressure into the container, means for maintaining different temperatures in said chambers, an air lock device for feed ing objects into one of the chambers, means for conveying objects throu h the chambers in series, and an air lock device for dischargli)ng the treated objects from another cham- 30. A heat treating ap aratus comprising a fluid tight container ivided into a p1urality of chambers the upper portions of which are in communication, means for admitting a heating liquid into one of said chambers, means for heating said liquid, means for admitting a cooling liquid into another chamber, means for forcin a fixed gas under pressure into said container, and conve ing means within the container for trans erring the objects treated from the heat-ing to the cooling chamber.

31. In a sterilizing apparatus comprising a plurality of sterilizing regions, a spiral canway in each region; a curved member connecting the upper portion of the spiral canway in one region to the beginning of the spiral canway "in the succeeding region, a

' ing the relative temperature of the respective sterilizing regions.

33. In a sterilizing apparatus comprising a plurality of sterilizing zones, and a cooling zone; means for maintaining a pressure above atmospheric in the said zones; means for moving containers through the several zones; means for transferring the containare from the upper portion of one zone to the next, and means for maintaining a different temperature in the heating zones.

34. In a sterilizing apparatus comprising a plurality of sterilizing zones, and a cooling zone; s iral means for moving the containers throug the several zones; means for directing the containers from the upperportion of one trackway to the succeeding trackway; a reel for (propelling cans through the canway and irecting member and means for maintaining different temperatures in the heating zones.

35. In a sterilizing apparatus comprising a plurality of sterilizing zones and a cooling zone in one container; a spiral canway in each zone, a can ath connecting the upper portions of the spiral canway in one zone to the spiral canway in a succeeding zone, a reel for propellin cans through the canwa and can path, an means for maintaining ifferent temperatures in the sterilizing zones.

36. Heat treating apparatus, comprising a plurality of chambers in one enclosure, means for maintaining pressure in said chambers, a spiral trackway in each chamber, said trackway communicating at the upper portions of the chambers; means within each chamber to move objects along each spiral 1 trackwa and means for transferring the objects rom the end of the spiral trackway in one chamber, to the beginning of the spiral trackway in another chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed .my name to this s ecification.

BERT R. THOMPSON. 

